Digital Jobs program boosts mid-career workers

A joint initiative from Victoria University (VU) and the Victorian Government launched in late 2021 has welcomed its latest round of recruits. The program is designed to boost mid-career workers by providing intensive training for recognised credentials before matching participants with local Victorian businesses to take part in a three-month paid internship.

The $64 million Digital Jobs program offers training and internship placement across a range of skills including cybersecurity, IT support, digital marketing and business analytics.

VU Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker joined Minister for Industry and Innovation The Honourable Ben Carroll to mark a $2.5 million investment into the program’s latest round, which will train 800 more candidates and provide $5000 wage subsidies to participating employers toward internships.

Around 87% of current jobs in Australia require digital literacy skills, with Deloitte forecasting that Victoria will need an extra 33,000 technology workers by 2024.

Since the program launched in August 2021, Victoria University Polytechnic (VU’s TAFE division) has supported 149 graduates through the online course, with another 75 students set for the next round.

“Digital skills have never been in such high demand — particularly across Melbourne’s west,” Shoemaker said.

“Victoria University is very proud to provide this essential training in highly sought after and transferable skills through our award-winning VU Polytechnic.”

VU Polytechnic is well positioned to deliver the training due to its mission to support Melbourne’s west in its transition into digital trades from its traditional manufacturing-based economy.

In 2019, VU Polytechnic launched a Cyber Security Operations Centre in partnership with Cisco at its St Albans Campus, and re-established the digital technology arm of its vocational training.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vocational Education Dianne Semmens said VU Polytechnic is proud to contribute to the program and support the state’s evolving workforce, which requires digital skills now more than ever.

“The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated technology-enhanced working and business practices, and access to flexible, high-quality training that allows Victorians to transition to a digital career is critical to our growth,” she said.

Employers in the program include carsales.com, PwC Australia, CBA, Amazon Web Services, MYOB, Salesforce, Computershare and GrantGuru.

Course participants must be a Victorian resident and aged over 30 with more than five years of work experience, or more than 10 years of total (not necessarily consecutive) work experience if aged under 30.

Click here to learn more about the Digital Jobs course or here to apply. Businesses interested in hosting an intern can find out more here.

Image credit: iStock.com/gorodenkoff